The Washington Nationals host the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday, March 27. First pitch for MLB Opening Day from Nationals Park is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. EDT; the game will be broadcast on MLB.TV, MASN, NBC 10 and NBCSP+.
This year feels like it might be make-or-break for the Phillies. Most of their superstars are all approaching their mid-30s and have not won a World Series in Philly. Speaking of established veterans, it will be ace Zack Wheeler on the mound against MacKenzie Gore and the upstart Nats.
Check out my Phillies vs Nationals prediction and parlay picks in my Opening Day preview for Thursday, March 27.
Phillies vs Nationals Predictions
- Phillies vs Nationals pick:Under 7.5 (Play to 7)
My Phillies vs Nationals best bet is on the Under for this game's total runs. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live MLB odds page.
Phillies vs Nationals Odds, Spread, Best Bet
| Phillies Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1.5 +110 | 7 -125o / +105u | -160 |
| Nationals Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1.5 -130 | 7 -125o / +105u | +135 |
- Phillies vs Nationals Moneyline: Phillies -160, Nats +135
- Phillies vs Nationals Over/Under: 7 (-125o / +105u)
- Phillies vs Nationals Run Line: Phillies -1.5 (+110), Nats +1.5 (-130)
- Phillies vs Nationals Best Bet: Under 7
Phillies vs Nationals Preview for Opening Day
Phillies Betting Preview
It will once again be wheels up for Philadelphia as Zack Wheeler makes his second straight Opening Day start. Wheeler is coming up another Cy Young runner-up season and has now finished in the top six in Cy Young voting three of the last four seasons.
Wheeler posted a 2.57 ERA in 32 starts and has cemented himself as one of the top pitchers in the sport. Over the past four seasons, Wheeler has racked up 55 wins, the most in baseball, and he is the betting favorite to lead the league in wins against this season. He throws six pitches, with his most dominant two being his 96 miles per hour fastball and his elite sinker.
Philadelphia’s lineup is among the most dangerous in baseball. The top four in the lineup of Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Alec Bohm all posted a wRC+ above 115 last season. Max Kepler is the only new addition to this lineup, and the only change appears to be Schwarber and Turner switching positions in the batting order, with Turner taking over the leadoff position.
Many hitters in this lineup can be streaky, which caused the Phillies to be inconsistent at times last year but also allowed them to keep things rolling when one or two of their hitters were slumping. The Phillies finished in the top five in runs scored and team OPS last season.
Nationals Betting Preview
MacKenzie Gore—a big part of the trade package Washington received for Juan Soto—has been teetering on the edge of breaking out. He has lowered his ERA in each of his first three seasons, posting a 3.90 ERA in 32 starts last year, his best campaign in the big leagues. This will be his first Opening Day start.
A big reason for Gore’s improvement last year was lowering his walk rate and his hard-hit percentage allowed. When Gore has had issues, it has typically been due to falling behind in the count and issuing too many free passes. Still only 26 years old, Gore is the youngest Washington pitcher to start opening day since Stephen Strasburg in 2014.
Washington hit the fewest home runs in the National League last season but worked to add some more power into the middle of their lineup this offseason, signing Josh Bell and trading for Nathaniel Lowe from Texas.
At the top of the order for Washington will be a trio of young stars that Nationals fans should be excited about for years to come. Shortstop CJ Abrams is coming off a breakout season that earned him an All-Star selection, and Dylan Crews and James Wood will both be playing their first full MLB seasons. Crews is the No. 4 overall prospect in baseball.
Phillies vs Nationals Prediction, Betting Analysis
Wheeler has established himself as one of the game’s most dominant pitchers, firmly in the elite tier of arms. He is coming off his best career season and has shown he performs in the big moments. On Opening Day last year, Wheeler tossed six shutout innings against the Braves.
He has also had success against these Nationals. In three starts against Washington last season, he pitched to a 2.29 ERA with 23 strikeouts across 19 2/3 innings. Wheeler keeps the ball down with his elite sinker and limits hard contact with the best of them.
Gore is one of the promising young pitchers. When he is clicking, he can be dominant. Gore finished on fire the past season, allowing two earned runs or fewer in each of his final seven starts. His last outing was a six-inning shutout against these Phillies, and he will look to pick up right where he left off.
